Check-protector.



L H. STEPHENSON.

CHECK PROTECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 13. l9l6.

1,228,844. Patented June 5, 1917.

LOWELL H. STEPHENSON, OF SAN FBANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

CHECK-PROTEGTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

. Application filed March 13, 1916. Serial No. 83,849.

canceling device having means for partially mutilating the surface ofthe check at which the amount is written, as well as imprint marks inink on the check.

Another object of my invention is to provide a check protector of thecharacter above described in which the parts thereof are readilydetachable for replacement and for renewal of theink pad.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following detaildescription and the claim taken with an inspection of the accompanyingvdrawing in which,

Figure 1 is a front side elevational view of a check protector embodyingthe improvements of my invention,

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the same,

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2looking in the direction of the arrow,

Fig. 1 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line H of Fig. 1looking in the direction of the arrow,

Fig. 5 is a reduced perspective view of my improved check protectorshowing the same in use, and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary top plan view of an inking pad and holdertherefor.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, wherein similar charactersof'reference designate like and corresponding parts throughout thevarious views 1 designates what I shall hereinafter term the base of mydevice, the free ends thereof being formed with upstanding portions 2and 3 forming ears for supporting the upper section 4. The upper section4 is preferably rectangular and is provided with front and rear walls 5and 6, a top wall 7 and end walls 8. The top section 4: is hingedlymounted between the ears 2 and 3 on a shaft 9, said shaft extendingthrough the length of said top section and engageable in suitableopenings in the ears 2 and 3. The side walls 5 and 6 terminate at thelower edges above the base I whereby to provide entrance and exitopenings 10 and 11 respec tively for the check or similar paper to becanceled. that the openings 10 and 11 are termed entrance and exitopenings, respectively, for convenience in describing the use of theinvention hereinafter embodied in this description and I do not limitmyself to any particular direction of movement of the check through thecanceling device.

The canceling mechanism of my invention embodies preferably a shaft 12the free extremities of which are mounted in suitable bearing plates 13carried by the end walls 8 of the upper section 1-, said shaft having aplurality ofradially extending teeth 14E arranged in sets and havingsharpened free extremities for a purpose which will here inafter appear.

Cooperating with the teeth 14; and located beneath the same I provide aninking pad 15 mounted on the base 1 and retained in position by means ofa metallic plate ,16 provided with notches 17 forming parallel extendingtongues 18, between which tongues the teeth 14 are adapted to operate.itemovable screws 19 serve to retain the plate 16 and pad'l5 inposition.

In order to retain the top section 4- in the position shown in thedrawing I provide a locking means comprising a flat spring member 20riveted at 21 to the ear 3 and having a pin 22 carried by the free endthereof, said pin being engageable through registering openings in theear 3 and one end wall 8 of the top section kl.

In operation acheck is inserted edgewise through the entrance opening 10and is adapted to pass above the plate 16 and below the shaft 12, theteeth 1% serving to partially mutilate the surface of'the check adjacent the amount, the inking pad imprinting ink upon the paper, itbeing understood that the portions of the check above the openings 17are forced downwardly into engagement with the inking pad by means ofthe teeth 14. It will thus be seen that when the check is drawn throughthe canceling device a plurality of short indentations are formed on thecheck adjacent the amount whereby to prevent altering the value of thecheck. It will be seen that the Patented June 5, raw. 1

It will be understood, of course,

all types of checks could be made to fit inthe vest pocket so that thesame might be used as a watch charm or anchoring weight for a watchchain.

From the above description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, it is thought that a clear and comprehensive understanding ofthe construction, operation and advantages of my invention may,

be had, and while I have shown and described my invention as embodying aspecific structure, I desire that it be understood that I may make suchchanges on said structure as do not depart from the spirit and scope ofthe invention as claimed.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is A deviceof the class described, including a base, a top section hingedly mountedthereon, ears formed on the free ends of the base to support the saidtop section, an ink pad carried by said base, a metallic plate havingnotches formed thereon, bearing plates carried by the end walls of saidtop section, a shaft having the free extremities thereof mounted in thesaid bearing plates, a plurality of teeth mounted on the said shaftcooperating with the said plate for indenting a check when insertedbetween the said teeth and the metallic plate and drawn therethrough.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

LOWELL H. STEPHENSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained forlfive cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

